Buff



Dec. 22, 1953 I w. RUTHVEN 2,663,125

BUFF

Filed July 18, 1950 LTZFE 272%? William 7244f]? ven Eff-L 75 Patented Dec. 22, 1953 BUFF William Ruthvcn, Oak Park, Ill.,' assignor to Ajax Buif Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 18, 1950, Serial N 0. 174,421

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a buffing wheel and a method of making the same, and more particularly to a bufiing wheel provided with means for spacing the wheel from an adjacentwheel of a bufling assembly and means carried by each bufing wheel to circulate a coolant fluid, such as air, under pressure between the adjacent bufling wheels to cool the wheels and a workpiece being operated on thereby.

The bufling wheels of the prior art typically include an annular cloth buff secured to a hub for mounting on a rotatable mandrel or shaft, In use,,a workpiece is generally held against the outer periphery of the cloth buff so that the workpiece is buffed or polished. It will beappreciated that the amount of work capable of being performed by a bufiin'g assembly, made up of a plurality of such buifing wheels, is dependent upon the rotational speed of the assembly and the degree of surface friction between'the workpiece and the buffs. However, it has been found that there is a definite limitation imposed upon the rotational speed of the assembly and upon the force with which the workpiece is urged thereagainst, by the fact that the annular buff becomes overheated in use causing charring of the buff and perhaps discoloration of the workpiece.

Various attempts have been made in the prior art to provide a ventilated bufling assembly, but such assemblies have been complicated in manufacture and use and relatively inefficient, One definite limitation upon the utilizationpreviously proposed buffs has been the necessity for, assembling the buiisin a definite correlated manner, the necessity of employing separate spacing means for providing spaces between adjacent buffs for the coolant fluid, such as air, and the difficulty of providing radial passages of the proper size and spacing to permit the flow of coolant under pressure to the buff periphery.

The present invention now provides an improved buifing wheel in which the annular cloth buff clamping elements are utilized first, to positively clamp the inner-periphery ofthebuff in position, and, secondly, toobtain a definite spacing of adjacent buffing wheels from one another. Notonly are the spacing means integrally formed witheach bufiing: wheel, but the spacing means provide a large number of relatively restricted radial flow passages communicating with the workingperiphery of the lending wheels. The buff clamping elements ofthe present invention are also provided withaplurality of pumping vanes which are; formed integrally .with one of the buff. clamping. elements and. which. are interposed between the annular buff and the mandrel upon which the buff is disposed. More particularly, these vanes are provided to create a pressurized coolant or air flow radially outwardly from the mandrel to the buff working periphery through the air channels provided by other portions of, the clamping elements. Not only are the vanes effective to cause such pressurized flow, but oppositely directed vanes are provided so that radial air flow is accomplished despite the direction of rotation of the bufling wheel assembly and the mandrel upon which it is disposed.

This latter feature provides a distinct advantage in ordinary shop use inasmuch as it is not necessary to stock both clockwise and counterclockwise rotatable buiis, as was formerly necessary where each type of mandrel was available.

The method of the present invention contemplates the stamping of one of the bud clamping elements from sheet metal or the like with the air fiow vanes being cut from the metal sheet at the time of stamping. The vanes may be deformed to their pumping contour either during the stamping operation or in a subsequent stamping operation, and the deflection of the vanes is variable so as to obtain a greater or lesser pumping effect as desired.

It is, therefore, an important object of the pres ent invention to provide an improved buffing wheel which is equipped with coolant fluid pumping means effective to cause a pressurized flow of coolant fluid radially outwardly of the wheel when the wheel is rotated about its axis in either direction. 7

Another important object of the present; invention is to provide abuffing wheel having an annular cloth buli and cooperating clamping means for securing the buff to a rotatable mandrel, theclamping means being provided with integrally formed means for spacing adjacent buffing wheels of a bufling assembly and with means for pumping a coolant fluid under pressure radially. of the assembly through the coolant flow passages fo'rcooling the buff and a workpiece held thereagainst;

Itis a further important object of the pres ent invention to provide a method of making a buffing wheel including the formation of a buff clamping member, the concurrent formation of pumping vanes in the clamping member, and the deflection of the vanes to a variable pumping contour.

Stillanother important object of the present invention isto provide a bumng wheel including an annular cloth buff, clamping elements secured to the cloth bun for disposing the same upon a rotatable mandrel, means formed integrally with the clamping elements for spacing adjacent bllf ling wheels of a wheel assembly to accommodate radial coolant fluid flow, and pumping vanes also formed integrally with the clamping elements and deflected therefrom to a pumping contour lying on each side of the clamping elements so that pressurized coolant fluid flow is obtained through the radial flow passages when the buff is rotated in either direction.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

On the drawings:

Figure l is an end elevational view of a bufllng wheel assembly of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken along the plane II--II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a buffing wheel of the present invention; and

Figure 4 is a plan view of one of the buffing wheel clamping elements prior to assembly of the bufiing wheel.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figure 1, reference numeral H! refers generally to a bufiing wheel assembly of the present invention including (Fig. 2) a plurality of bufllng wheels ii disposed on a rotatable mandrel I2 and retained thereon by means of axially spaced clamping plates 53 which in turn are retained on the mandrel i2 by suitable means, as by nuts Hi, threaded thereon. The clamping plates it are provided with peripheral inturned annular flanges i5 for contacting the end buffs ll of the assembly and with arcuate air flow passages i6.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 3, the bufiing wheels 1 1 each comprise an annular buff I! which may be any of the numerous types of annular bumng cloth constructions known in the art. However, it is preferred that annular buffs formed of a plurality of elongated bias-cut strips be employed. Such buffs are generally prepared by transversely gathering or pleating a plurality of superimposed strips, sewing the strips longitudinally down the center, as at [8 in Figure 2, and then doubling the strip upon itself along the sewed line iii. The double strip is then folded or pleated into an annular configuration having a smooth generally rounded inner periphery I5, and the completed buff is preferably sewed, as at 2%, adjacent its inner periphery.

Each buihng wheel I! also includes a hub assembly which comprises a circular disk iii and an annular ring 22 secured to opposing sides of the buff i'l adjacent the inner periphery i9 thereof. The disk 22 is generally circular in outline and is provided with a centrally located, integrally formed, cylindrical flange Z3 defining an aperture 2d concentric with the disk 2! and adapted to receive the mandrel I2 therethrough.

The disk 2! is provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced, radially extending teeth 25, the teeth having tapered outer portions 26 with relatively sharp edges for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

The ring 22 is of slightly smaller diameter than the disk 2 excluding the teeth 25, and the ring is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures 21, corresponding in radial displacement from one another and approximate size to the teeth 20. The ring 22 is also provided with a plurality of embossments 2B deformed from the ring immediately adjacent each of the apertures 27 and spaced radially inwardly of the ring from the apertures. The embossments 28 are radially aligned with the apertures 2! and project from the plane face of the ring 22.

The disk 2i is also provided with a plurality of fluid flow directing and pumping vanes Bil spaced radially of the dish intermediate the central flange 23 and. the circumferential teeth 25. The vanes 3d are each located on radii of the disk and are formed by spaced arcuate slits iii having the same center of curvature located at the geometrical center of the disk. Each of the spaced arcuate slits 3i defines one edge of a pair of vanes or flaps 3d, the pair of vanes being separated by a radial slit 32 extending radially inwardly toward the center of the dish from the center of each arcuate slit 35. It will be seen that the slits 3i and 32 cooperate to define spaced pairs of vanes 3d, the vanes having a generally triangular configuration and being joined to the disk 2! along a non-severed line of deflection 33.

As best shown in Figure 2, the vanes 33 are deflected from the plane of the dish 2i to lie on opposing lateral sides of the disk, one of each pair of vanes thus having its reading edge deflected from the disk 25 to face in a direction opposing that of the corresponding leading edge of the other of the pair of vanes.

The assembly of the wheel it will be readily appreciated from a study of Figure 4 of thedrawings and Figure 2. As shown in Figure 4, the teeth 25 initially lie in the plane of the disk, while the vanes 36 are preferably deformed therefrom. As an initial assembly step, the teeth 25 are each deformed from the plane of the disk to lie substantially normal thereto and the disk 2! and the ring 22 are then positioned on opposing sides of the buii ii adjacent the inner periphery i9 thereof. Next, the disk teeth pointed edges 2% are forced completely through the en tire thickness of the buff ii, and the teeth pointed portions 25 are next passed through the apertures 27 of the ring 22. To complete the assembly of the clamping elements and the bud, the teeth pointed portions 2% are deformed rad ally inwardly toward the center of the assembly, the teeth smoothly overlying the embossments 28 formed on the ring 22. In this manner, it will be seen that the clamping elements are securely locked together with the buff interposed therebetween and the teeth complete this final locking assembly.

In the final assembly, as best indicated in Figure 2, it will be seen that the deformed teeth pointed portions 25 and the embossments 23 1ying directly therebeneath serve to space the buffing wheel H from an adjacent buffing wheel ii within the assembly iii. This spacing extends peripherally around the entire buffing wheel and the contact between the teeth pointed portions 26, and the adjacent surface of the disk 2! of the adjacent wheel forms a plurality of radial air passages lying between the teeth. These radial passages are separated from one another by the teeth deformed portions 25:, and it will be seen that a relatively restricted fluid now path is provided therebetween. This radial fluid flow path between the teeth communicates between adjacent buffs l i with the outer periphery of the buff assembly, and even if the outer peripheral edges of adjacent buffs overlap, these edges are still cooled by the radial flow of coolant fluid, such as air, therethrough.

It will also be noted from the assembly view of Figure 2 that one vane 39 of each assembly ii is deflected from the'p'lane of" the=disk 2| to directly underlie the inner peripheryiofthe corresponding'bufi, while the corresponding vane ,30 of the diskll of the adjacentwheel ll. directly underliesv its buff" I71" It willlalsobe noted that the vane 31) which is directed oppositelyto that vane underlying'the'corresponding buff IT under:- lies the buff fl'of'an adjacent wheel I I, i In this manner, the vanes directly underlie either their associated buff brthebufl" ofan' adjacentwheel, and the provision of'the'se vanesju'p'on the disk: 2! insuresproximityof'thevanesito the fluidiflow passages between adjacent bufling' wheels. The employment of the oppositely deflected vanes of each pair of vanes makes possible the pumping of fluid regardless of the direction of rotation of the bumng assembly, and the positioning'of each vane of each pair of vanes as hereinbefore described causes this pumping to take place in either direction with approximately the same degree of efficiency. In addition, the vanes may be deflected to a greater or lesser degree from the plane of the associated disk so that pumping efficiency may be varied at will. It will also be seen that no matter what the degree of deflection, air is still directed inwardly toward the plane of the disk, and each disk lies in approximately the plane of the radial fluid flow passages provided by the teeth of the adjacent disk. In this manner, efficient pumping action is insured.

The method of forming the disk 21 comprises the step of stamping the disk with the teeth 25 and the central aperture 24 at the same time the slits 3| and 32 are formed. The vanes 39 may be deformed from the plane of the disk 24 either during the stamping operation, as a subsequent operation, or as two separate steps in which first corresponding vanes on one side of the disk are deformed from the plane thereof, and subsequently corresponding vanes on the other side of the disk. Alternatively, the vanes may be formed separately and fixed in place, as by spot welding, adjacent corresponding openings in the disk 2|.

.It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A bufling wheel comprising an annular cloth buff, a clamping member, means carried by said clamping member for securing said member to said buff, and a pair of air deflecting vanes formed integrally with said clamping member and projecting one on each side thereof, each of said vanes having a first edge extending substantially along a single radius of said clamping member, said vanes being joined to the clamping member along lines of deflection which meet equiangularly at said radius line and diverge outwardly therefrom toward the periphery of said one clamping member whereby during rotation of said buif in either direction the air will be deflected from a tangential path by one of said vanes into a radially outwardly path to cool the buff.

2. A bufling wheel comprising a cloth bufi, a clamping member, means carried by said clamping member for securing said member to said buff, and pairs of fluid directing vanes carried by said member and extending substantially in planes at acute angles to the plane of said member, the vanes of each pair projecting on opposite sides thereof with the trailing edge of one of said vanes lying substantially on the same radius estlie leading edge of the other of: said vanes but axially separated therefrom whereby said vanes will cooperate to scoop fluid from a ally spaced teeth formed integrally therewith and extending-through said buff in a plane approximately normal to the plane of the disk, an annular ring for abutting an opposing surface of said buff and having apertures therein for receiving said teeth extending through said buff, said teeth being deformed radially of said ring to lie thereagainst to clamp said disk and said ring to said buff, and spaced pairs of flow directing vanes projecting laterally from the plane of said disk radially inwardly of said ring, the individual vanes of each of said pairs being deformed from the plane of said disk on opposite sides thereof to direct fluid flow radially outwardly toward said buff the leading edge of one of the vanes of each pair constituting an inlet during rotation of the buff in one direction and the trailing edge of the other vane of each pair being spaced therefrom axially of the disk a distance equal to twice the deflection of said leading edge from the plane of the disk, whereby the vanes of each pair combine to provide a double size air inlet to an air deflecting vane in either direction of rotation of the buff.

4. A bufling wheel comprising an annular cloth buff, a substantially plane circular disk abutting one side surface of said buiT, teeth formed integrally with said disk and extending through said buff, an annular ring abutting an opposing side surface of said buff and having peripheral apertures formed therein to receive said teeth, said teeth being deformed radially into extended surface contact with said ring to secure said disk and said ring to said buff, said tooth portions lying against said ring serving to space each of said wheels from an adjacent wheel of a bufliing assembly, and at least one pair air directing vanes projecting laterally at acute angles from the plane of said disk radially inwardly of said teeth, said vanes being immediately adjacent each other and deflected to project from the plane of the disk on opposing sides thereof to streamline and direct fluid flow outwardly between said teeth against said buff when the wheel is rotated in either direction. 7

5. A bufling wheel comprising an annular cloth buff, a circular sheet metal buff carrying disk supported for rotation about its axis, a plurality of pairs of air deflecting vanes formed integrally with said disk with one of each of said pair projecting on one side of said disk and the other projecting on the other side of said disk, the said other vane acting as a streamlining means for the opening of said one vane When the disk is rotating in one direction and the said one vane acting as a streamlined opening for said other vane when the disk is rotating in the other direction.

6. A ventilating mounting disk for use with buffs which comprises a disk having means at its periphery for securing buff material thereto, a plurality of pairs of vanes spaced radially inwardly from said periphery, each of said pairs having one vane projecting from the plane of said disk axially thereof in one direction and the other vane projecting from said disk on the opposite side thereof, said vanes being substantially 2,668,125; 7" 8 identical in configuration and the leading edge References Cited in the file of this patent of one of said vanes lying substantially on the T AT NT same radius line as the trailing edge of the other UNITED STA Es P E S of said vanes but axially spaced therefrom, Number Name Date whereby the vanes in each pair cooperate with 1,380,381 Herqld J1me 1921 each other to provide a streamlined deflected flow 1,920,657 1933 of air in either direction of rotation of said 2,106,610 Krelhck 1938 bum 2,136,747 Sevoy Nov. 15, 1938 2,140,208 Murray Dec. 13, 1938 WILLIAM V N 10 2,187,602 Hague Jan. 16, 1940 2,519,275 Mollica Aug. 15, 1950 2,602,273 Lawler July 8, 1952 2,602,274 Lawler July 8, 1952 

